Genre Roulette

A web app for Spotify that lets you play a random genre for a set time, then switch to another genre — perfect for music discovery, parties, or group listening sessions.

Features

• 🎲 Random genre selection from a curated list
• ⏱️ Adjustable timer for each genre round (default: 15 minutes, can be set via URL)
• 🔄 Prevents immediate genre repeats (remembers last 3 genres)
• 🍪 Genre history is persisted via cookies
• 🎧 Device selection: Play on any available Spotify device or the built-in Web Player
• 🔒 Device selection locks during a round, unlocks after
• 🟢 Spotify authentication with PKCE (no server needed)
• 🕒 Loader and status feedback for user actions
• 📱 Responsive UI for desktop and mobile

How It Works

1. Login with Spotify: Authenticate via the Spotify Web API (OAuth PKCE).
2. Select Device: Choose a Spotify device (phone, desktop app, or Web Player). If no other device is found, the Web Player is used by default.
3. Start Roulette: The app picks a random genre and starts playback on the selected device.
4. Timer: Each round lasts for the set duration. When time is up, you can start the next genre.
5. Skip Track: Skip the current track (once per genre round).
6. No Genre Repeats: The last 3 genres are remembered and not repeated immediately.

Setup & Usage

1. Clone the Repository

2. Create Spotify Developer App

• Go to the Spotify Developer Dashboard
• Create a new app
• Set the Redirect URI to: https://<your-domain-or-localhost>/
• Copy your Client ID

3. Configure the App

• Copy config.example.js to config.js
• Fill in your Spotify Client ID and Redirect URI in config.js

4. Start the HTTPS Server (for local testing)

Spotify requires HTTPS for authentication. Use the provided Python script:

python start_https_server.py

• The app will be available at: https://localhost:5500/
• Accept the self-signed certificate in your browser

5. Open in Browser

Go to https://localhost:5500/ and follow the instructions.

Requirements

• Spotify Premium account (required for playback control)
• Browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)
• Python 3 (for local HTTPS server)
• OpenSSL (optional, only needed for generating a self-signed certificate to run the app locally with HTTPS)

Customization

• Add or edit genres in genres.js
• Change timer default or limits in genre-roulette.js
• Adjust UI in genre-roulette.css and index.html

Troubleshooting

• No devices found?
  • Start playback in your Spotify app (phone/desktop) and reload the page.
• Web Player not working?
  • Make sure you allow the browser to play audio and accept the HTTPS certificate.
• Authentication issues?
  • Double-check your config.js and Spotify Developer settings.

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Made with ❤️ for music lovers. PRs and feedback welcome!